TRACK 1.
You Anointed Me
Erik Peterson, Devotional Christian
(click arrow to play)
“His life is about music, his music is about love, and his message is about inspiration.” Erik Peterson is a great singer-songwriter who has generously offered to this CD one of the most beautiful pieces of spiritual music that I’ve ever heard, called, “You Anointed Me,” a song that enters deeply into your soul. Erik offers concerts in churches and other venues around the world and has several excellent CDs available. Check out Erik’s Web site and send him some love for sharing this exquisite song!
www.erikpeterson.org
TRACK 2.
Hallelujah
Sharon Janis, multileveled vocal celebration
This multilayered rendition is sung in melodies and harmonies drawn from Pachelbel's Canon. Read Chapter 11 of my memoir, Never to Return: A Modern Quest for Eternal Truth, to see why I like Pachelbel's Canon so much: Chapter 11: Toward the One.
TRACK 3.
Lord Don't Move the Mountain
Sharon Janis, Gospel (Song written and originally sung by Mahalia Jackson)
This empowering and inspiring song was written and originally performed by gospel singer Mahalia Jackson, who is regarded as the “Queen of Gospel Music” (She was a mentor for Aretha Franklin!) This song is referenced in the Spirituality For Dummies chapter titled: From Troubles to Triumphs, and it is a great antidote to some of today's ego-driven materialistic spiritual fads. The only available recording of Mahalia Jackson’s rendition of this song is of poor audio quality, so I’ve sung a version to include on this CD.
TRACK 4.
Oseh Shalom
Cantor Kathy Robbins, Jewish chant
Cantor Kathy is a wonderful singer who brings together ancient Jewish prayers with original contemporary music. Kathy serves as Cantor and Music Director of Temple Solel in Cardiff by the Sea, California, and has offered two songs from her CD “Shavat Vayinafash – An Island in Time: Contemporary Music for the Eve of Shabbat” for this CD. This prayer is recited in every Jewish prayer service, and asks, “May the One who makes peace in the heavens bring peace upon us all.” Cantor Kathy sweetly sings this prayer to her original musical composition.
TRACK 5.
Hare Krishna
Sharon Janis and group, Hindu chant
This is a group kirtan chant of what is called the Maha Mantra or great mantra. The chant is lead by Sharon Janis and supported by musicians from Bolo! and Jyoti Mandir. Join in and sing along! The words are:
“Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare,
Hare Rama, Hare Ram, Rama Rama Hare Hare.”
TRACK 6.
Now is the Time for Prayer
Desert Fathers, Gregorian
This song opens the door to prayer by announcing that “Now is the time for prayer, forgiveness and supplication. This is the hour of mercies. Let us all arise and call out together and say, Kyrie Eleison (Lord have mercy).”
TRACK 7.
Eternal Om
Robert Slap, digital mantra meditation
I’m not always a fan of new-age or electronic music, but musician Robert Slap has used modern technology to synthesize various pitches and octaves of male voices singing the holy syllable “Om” together with a background choir of soothing voices in a way that is truly magical. It sounds like a cosmic version of monks singing, as each “Om” descends with the gentle freshness of water drops falling upon a lake. On this CD you’ll hear a sample section – the full CD titled "Eternal Om" is available through most online venues.
TRACK 8.
Jai Jagadambe
Kali Mandir, Sanskrit chant
“Jai Jagadambe” is sung by the Kali Mandir singers, featuring lead singers Prakash Barrera and Tara Pendleton. This Hindi song of love to the divine mother is sung with precious devotional feeling to a melodious East-West combination of styles. “Divine Mother of the universe, you shower such blessings and good fortune on us!”
TRACK 9.
Diamond Sutra
Sharon Janis, Buddhist scripture sung in English
This is a chapter from the ancient Diamond Cutter Sutra, with a dialogue between Buddha and his disciple Subhuti about whether beings who will come in future times will be able to understand the sublime teachings (such as us!)
Play the full scripture at: www.diamond-sutra.org
TRACK 10.
Holy, Holy
Desert Fathers, Byzantine
This hymn is common to both Judaism and Christianity, and it says: “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Hosts. Heaven and earth are full of His glory. Blessed be He unto the ages. Amen.”
TRACK 11.
Om Sri Ram
Prem Trikannad, mantra fast chant
“Om Sri Ram” is a group chant lead by Prem Trikannad with Satsang Foundation musicians and singers and myself singing the responses. This song repeats an ancient Sanskrit mantra of praise to the divine. Om is the primordial sound of universal creation, Sri is pronounced Shree, and is a term of respect and acknowledgment of greatness, and Ram is a name for God. The full mantra is Om Shree Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram. Prem is a dear friend and one of the best Indian devotional singers that I’ve heard. He is the grandson of a wonderful and highly respected Indian sage named Papa Ramdas, who always encouraged spiritual seekers to repeat and chant the Sanskrit mantra “Om Sri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram.”
TRACK 12.
Ave Maria
Sharon Janis, Catholic prayer
This was sung as the finale of a concert of sacred music at the Sun Valley Opera House. You can play the video of this performance HERE.
TRACK 13.
Amazing Grace
Sharon Janis, Christian devotional
In 1772, John Newton was moved to write about his intense spiritual conversion from slave-ship captain to Anglican clergyman by composing the song “Amazing Grace,” which has blessed and inspired so many through the centuries.
TRACK 14.
Twameva Mata
Swami Nirvanananda, Sanskrit prayer
Swami Nirvanananda Saraswati is a monk from Italy who travels around the world with his guitar and devotional singing and ecstatic chanting. In this track, Swami Nirvanananda sings with tender sweetness this verse of devotion that is very popular in India. Sung in Sanskrit and then English, this verse speaks to the divine, saying: “Thou art my mother, my father thou art, thou art my brother, my friend, thou art. Thou art my wisdom, my wealth thou art. Thou art my all, light of lights, thou art.”
Swamiji has several beautiful CDs available -- find more information about him and his works at: www.nirvanananda.org
TRACK 15.
Ghunghata Ka
Sharon Janis, Indian poet saint song by Kabir
“Ghunghata Ka” sung by Sharon Janis. This is a devotional Hindi song, also called a bhajan, that was composed by a great mystic poet who lived in the 15th century. This poem says, “You will meet God, you will meet your Beloved. Remove the veil, and you will meet your Beloved. The Lord dwells in every single heart, so never speak bitterly to anyone. Then you will meet your Beloved.”
TRACK 16. R'tsei
Cantor Kathy Robbins, Hebrew prayer
Cantor Kathy Robbins composed the joyful original melody to this ancient Hebrew prayer that asks God to be pleased and be gracious to His people. “Pour Your spirit upon us and may our eyes behold Your merciful return to Zion.”
TRACK 17. Om Namah Shivaya
Sharon Janis, slow mantra sung
This is the holy mantra that my Guru, Baba Muktananda, gave to hundreds of thousands of spiritual seekers around the world. This ancient set of syllables reverberates with the deeper meaning of “I honor the great Self of the Universe that is also my own innermost self.” I was blessed to chant this with both Baba Muktananda and Gurumayi Chidvilasananada and remember times playing the harmonium organ and tamboura for the chant, while watching the blue light flowing from Muktananda with each repetition. In Chapter 19 of my memoir Never to Return, I describe a most amazing experience of chanting this mantra with Muktananda minutes before he left the United States for the last time. You can read the chapter here: Chapter 19: That Gracious Glance.
